Posted By Brit Liggett On March 25, 2011 @ 11:13 am In Environment,Renewable Energy,Wind Power | No Comments

Turkey Hill[1] — the United States’ fourth largest ice cream maker — has announced that it will be powering one fourth of their ice cream manufacturing with wind power[2]. The company’s Pennsylvania factory will get an average of 25% of its yearly power from the new wind turbine project[2] at Frey Farm on Turkey Hill along the banks of the Susquehanna River near its factory. The wind project is a joint venture between Turkey Hill, PPL Renewable Energy[3] and Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority[4] and in February — its first full month online — it generated 769,677 kilowatt hours of electricity[5] for the factory which equates to 32% of the factory’s total energy consumption. Not bad for a first month run.

Photo by John Womack

“We are so excited by our new use of wind power and all the opportunities that reduce our environmental footprint,” Turkey Hill Dairy President Quintin Frey told WHPTV. “Our support for renewable energy stems from our strong commitment to a sustainable future in Lancaster County and all of the communities we serve across the United States.” The new wind project[2] consists of two wind turbines — together generating 3.2 megawatts — capable of powering six million gallons of ice cream and 15 million gallons of iced tea (Turkey Hill produces iced tea in addition to ice cream).

All of the power produced by the turbines will be purchased by Turkey Hill. The turbines are joining an already impressive list[1] of green initiatives taken on by the ice cream manufacturer which include a 3.2 megawatt methane gas-to-electricity facility, package reduction initiatives, local sourcing initiatives, steam power that provides 75% of the dairy’s hot water needs and extensive recycling initiatives. We’re going to go ahead and say that Turkey Hill is taking some real steps to make their manufacturing process greener — and reducing their energy bills[5] in the process! This isn’t another case of greenwashing[6], these turbines are the real deal.